Missile launching mechanism

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for supporting, restraining and firing a missile. The missile is supported on a launch rail and restrained from movement by a detent holding means. After ignition, the missile is held until sufficient thrust is developed to overcome restraining force of the holding means. As the missile moves forward on the launch rail a plate on the missile surface resets the detent holding means for operation by the following missile.

tes tet Luwick et al. 51 May 15, 1973 [54] MISSILE LAUNCHING MECHANISM 2,496,316 2 1950 Skinner ..89/1.807 3,059,543 10/1962 Manz et al ..89/1.807 [75] Inventors; 15 2:; hz gi s fgz gfiz? 7 3,166,981 1/1965 Harris et al ..89/1.806 both of Cahf' Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle [73] Assi nee: The United States of America as Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC. 57 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 18,1971 A mechanism for supporting, restraining and firing a [21] APP] 172,799 missile. The missile is supported on a launch rail and restrained from movement by a detent holding means. After ignition, the missile is held until sufficient thrust ..89/1l.807,Fl91/f1.38/(1)Z is developed to overcome restraining force of the [58] Fie'ld 1 807 holding means. As the missile moves forward on the l fi L launch rail 21 plate on the missile surface resets the dev v tent holding means for operation by the following mis- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 3,040,629 6/1962 Duncan et al. ..89/l.806

, Pmarmwnsms 3,732,777

Lawrence M. Ludwick Eimer E.. Moisio,

v INVENTORS.

BY /WM Macaw-a MISSILE LAUNCI-IING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of missile launchers. A majority of the mobile missile launchers in use are not capable of supporting a missile in a ready to fire position during travel. One of the problems has been that of securing a missile to the launcher and ready for firing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has overcome this problem by providing the launcher with a mechanism whereby the initial loading impact of the missile releases a means to secure the missile to the launch rail. On first motion of the missile, after ignition, a pawl is forced to disengage the missile and subsequently resets the securing means for the following missile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a launch rail broken away to show the detent and firing assembly and a missile to be supported by the rail.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the launching mechanism showing a missile supported on the rail and secured by the detent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, a launching mechanism includes a support arm 11 for attaching a launch rail 12 to a firing station (not shown) which supports several launch rails. The rail has a key slide 14 for engagement with missile attached hangers 16 and 18 to support the missile in a slidable relation with the rail. Detent assembly 22 and firing assembly 100 are located inside the launch rail and are mounted on a supporting plate 24 that is secured to the rail by means 26. The sides of plate 24 are formed in the same configuration as key slide 14 to form part of the key slide. The firing means, more clearly shown in FIG. 2, includes a pin 28 for grounding the firing circuit (not shown), a firing pin 30 for ignit ing the missile, an actuator 32 for moving the firing pin, a shaft 34 connected to the actuator and an electrical firing solenoid 36 for moving the shaft upon energization by a firing impulse.

The detent holding means includes a pawl 38 having a cam surface 40 for engagement with a detent 42. The detent 42 is formed in an abutment plate 44 mounted on the inside of missile hanger 16. Pawl 38 is mounted in a housing 46 for slidable movement therein. A pin 48 connects pawl 38 to a lever 50 for movement about a fulcrum 52 when the lever is pivoted. One end 54 of the lever cooperates with shoulder 56 ofa shoe 58 to maintain the pawl in a cocked or raised position. The shoe is biased forwardly by a shock absorber 60 to maintain engagement of shoulder 56 with lever end 54. The other end 62 of the lever is connected to a piston 64, biased by a spring 66 located in a housing 68 to load the lever. A shaft 70 connects the piston with a camming device 72. When camming device 72 is rotated it will cause lever end 62 and pawl 38 to raise up so that shoulder 56 will engage lever end 54 and cock" the holding means for operation. The lever further includes a housing 74 for mounting the ground pin 28. Superimposed openings 76 and 78 allows passage of the firing pin to contact the missile.

A safety pin 80 cooperates with an opening in an extension of shaft 34 to hold the firing pin in an inoperative position. The firing means is armed when the safety pin is removed.

Prior to operating the launching mechanism, cam device 72 is moved to raise lever end 62 thereby causing shoulder 56 to engage end 54 and cock the detent means. Upon loading a missile on the launch rail rear hanger l8 clears the lower part of shoe 58. When hanger 16 comes in close proximity to the lower part of shoe 58, plate 44 abuts the shoe and forces it against the action of shock absorber 60. As soon as end 54 clears shoulder 56, spring 66 forces lever 50 to pivot about fulcrum 52 and bring pawl 38 into securing position with the detent 42 of plate 44. This holding action now restrains the missile from movement with respect to thelaunch rail 12. When a firing impulse operates solenoid 36 to cause firing pin 30 to ignite the missile for launching, thrust is developed by the missile. As the missile moves forward on the launch rail cam surface 40 forces the pawl out of engagement with plate 44 and the pawl pivots the lever so that shoulder 56 again engages lever end 54 and recocks the detent means for operation by the following missile.

We claim:

1. A launching mechanism for supporting, restraining and firing a missile, said missile being provided with an abutment plate, said mechanism comprising: a launch rail for supporting said missile; means released in response to loading the missile on said launch rail for securing the missile in firing position; a firing assembly for igniting said missile; a plate for supporting said means and said firing assembly and forming part of said launch rail, said means engaging said abutment plate for movement thereby when the missile is launched to reset the means for operation upon reloading of another missile on said launching mechanism; said means including a slidable pawl provided with a cam surface for engagement with said abutment plate, a pivoted lever connected to said pawl for moving said pawl into and out of engagement with said abutment plate, said lever having one end connected to a spring biased piston for pivoting said lever, a camming device secured to said piston for rotating said opposite lever end and said pawl to an initial cocked position, a shoe provided with a shoulder for engagement with said opposite lever end and means to bias said shoulder against said opposite lever end for securing the pawl in a cocked position.

2. A launching mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a shock absorber which in response to loading the missile on the rail releases said pawl for engagement with said abutment plate.

3; A launching mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said firing assembly includes a firing pin for igniting the missile, an electrical firing solenoid and means operated by said solenoid for moving said firing pin. 

1. A launching mechanism for supporting, restraining and firing a missile, said missile being provided with an abutment plate, said mechanism comprising: a launch rail for supporting said missile; means released in response to loading the missile on said launch rail for securing the missile in firing position; a firing assembly for igniting said missile; a plate for supporting said means and said firing assembly and forming part of said launch rail, said means engaging said abutment plate for movement thereby when the missile is launched to reset the means for operation upon reloading of another missile on said launching mechanism; said means including a slidable pawl provided with a cam surface for engagement with said abutment plate, a pivoted lever connected to said pawl for moving said pawl into and out of engagement with said abutment plate, said lever having one end connected to a spring biased piston for pivoting said lever, a camming device secured to said piston for rotating said opposite lever end and said pawl to an initial cocked position, a shoe provided with a shoulder for engagement with said opposite lever end and means to bias said shoulder against said opposite lever end for securing the pawl in a cocked position.
 2. A launching mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a shock absorber which in response to loading the missile on the rail releases said pawl for engagement with said abutment plate.
 3. A launching mechanism as in claim 2 wherein said firing assembly includes a firing pin for igniting the missile, an electrical firing solenoid and means operated by said solenoid for moving said firing pin. 